‘The Mental Approach Is The Biggest Thing’: Former Pirates And Sundowns Stalwart Reads The Durban Football Final

Dan Malesela was a stalwart player for both professional South African soccer clubs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, and believes Saturday’s MTN8 final between the heavyweight pair in Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province will be a tense and tight battle.

Malesela, who also lifted the Nedbank Cup as a coach with then second-tier TS Galaxy, understands the pressures of a cup final, having played in several himself, and says whoever handles that best could come out on top in a clash between two evenly matched sides.

On the line is a R10-million ($604,000) first prize, with the runners-up to go home with R1-million ($60,000), a massive gap between those who lift the trophy and those who go home disappointed.

Pirates are seeking an unprecedented fifth victory in a row in the MTN8 and a record-equalling 15th win overall in the competition since it was first played in 1972, while it is a trophy that has largely eluded Sundowns down the years despite their extraordinary league success.

When two teams are evenly matched, who handles the pressure on the day of the final can make all the difference, according to Malesela.

“There is a big mental aspect to it,” he tells FORBES AFRICA. “I think Pirates will probably be a bit more relaxed, while Sundowns will probably be a bit tense.

“That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you approach the occasion.

“I think the mental approach is the biggest thing here. But it obviously comes with the pressure on Sundowns of saying, ‘We want to win this. We really must win this.’

“That can be an advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage.”

Malesela says he has not been all that impressed with how Sundowns have attacked teams this season and, against a miserly Pirates defence, that could also be a factor.

“I’m a bit sceptical about Sundowns’ creation of chances lately. I think they take too long to get into the opposition’s final third,” he says.

“If they can try to save time and create more opportunities when they have the chance to go forward, while still being cautious, they can get into the opposition’s half much quicker.”